Apparatus for splitting, spreading, and flattening pipe



March 9, 19 3. A. c. ALLEN 2,313,702

APPARATUS FOR SPLITTING, SPREADING, AND FLATTENING PIPE Filed Feb. 5,1942 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

OOOOOOO ME M v pTTORNEY Marsh 9,1943; A. c. ALLEN 5 3 APPARATUS FORSPLIT'I'ING, SPREADING, AND FLATTENING PIPE Filed Feb. 5, 1942 2Sheets-Shet 2 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 "OFFICE APPARATUS FOR smrrma,SPREADING,

AND mrrsmc PIPE Alexander 0. Allen, Monroe, one-half to Nathan BracMich, assignor, of hman, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 5, 1942, Serial No. 429,628

' 11 Claims. (01. 29-17) v This invention relates to an apparatus forsplitting and spreading pipe, and more particularly to a-means forperforming a series of steps for progressively slitting or cuttinglengthwise a length of pipe, drawing the slit pipe over a suitableforming anvil, thereby spreading open the pipe into a fiat sheet, andfurther drawing said sheet through a series of leveling rolls to producea flat length of metal stock.

The invention also relates to suitable apparatus for carrying out 'eachof the steps in the above mentioned method.

Heretofore tubular goods that are rejected for mechanical failure, notphysical stress, in failing to comeup to certain predetermined standards, are utilized where possible in the manufacture of 'omamental itemssuch as poles, railings, vent pipes or non-pressure purposes. However,it is seen that their utilization is somewhat limited as compared totheir possible utility it such rejected pipe could be opened up andfiattened into flat strips of stock, plates, or sheets.

The same is true of old and discarded pipes and tubing, for this sourceof pipe is equally available. It would appear that there is considerabletonnage of old pipe and tubes which would also come up to thespecifications required of plates and sheets or strips produced from newrejected tubular goods.

It is therefore the object'of this invention to teach novel apparatusfor reducing metallic tubular goods new or old to flat stock.

It is the object of this invention to teach an apparatus for slittingtubular stock, and thenforming or'spreading the same into flat sheets orstrips.

It is the further object herein to provide also a means for leveling outsuch flattened stock for commercial use.

It is a further object herein -to provide an apparatus for rendering thetubular stock partially malleablebefore the forming operation; and also,if desired, rendering the flattened stock further malleable beforeleveling or reducing the gauge of the same through suitable rollers.

It is a still further object herein to provide a means for propelling alength of pipe over a delivery table and intothe conveying rollers whichare adjacent a plurality ofrtandem set saws or cutters disposedtherebeneath.

This invention relates to the various means hereinafter described indetail and also to the various arrangements of apparatus and theirvarious combination as now more fully set out in the appendedspecification and drawings of which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentarydiagrammatic side elevational view of apparatus for carrying out thevarious methods taught by this invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary topplan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary Fig. 2. a

Fig. 6 is a fragmentarypartial section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary partial section on line 1--1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of section on line 5-5 ofFig. 9 is a fragmentary partial section on line 99ofFlg.2.

The above drawings illustrate merely preferable apparatus for carryingout the various methods" embodied herein, it being expressly understoodthat other apparatus within the scope sheets or strips of of the claimshereinafter might equally well carry out such methods.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 shows a partially broken away deliverytable it upon which pipe P is placed before being slit. Shafts l2 and I3rotatably journale'd within said table have sprocket wheels ll, I5, l6and i1 secured thereon providing rotatable actuating means for theinterconnecting sprocket chains l8 and IS.

A portable yoke 20 with its ends suitably secured to said chains isadapted to further push the pipe onto the conveying rollers 2|, afterthe same has been manually started on its wayover the delivery tableII-. Said rollers journal'ed within table'l I and poweractuated by amotor 22 and a train of intermeshing gears 23 cooperates with thehold-down rollers 24 for conveying said pipe P into operative cuttingengagement with a series of tandem disposed rotary saws or cutters 25.After said yoke has reached its full travel via the'propelling chains,the yoke gravitates out of position and is returned to the end of thedelivery table II manually or by conveyor belt.

It is understood that a plurality of yokes may be v vertical adjustmentwithin suitable slots 21 therein so as to accommodate various diametersof Pipe.

Rotary pipe cutting, saws or cutters 25 each able or slightly plasticcutting.

' conveying apparatus. I

' should now be had to the claims lating means onto which said pipe,rotatable cutting means by producing a malleable or partially plasticcondition to the slit pipe prior to its being spread. This heater isadvantageous but is not absolutely necessary to the-carrying out of theabove described method. p As theforward end of the slit pipe proceedsover the nose or horn 28 of the anvil 29 it is further engaged by thepowered rolls 30 actuated by motor 3| and the intermeshing train ofgears 32 even before spreading or the pipe begins. Buckling of the pipeis thus prevented because at the moment spreading begins the pipe isfirmly held between the top surface of the anvil 29' and the rollers 30.

Anvil 29 at its front portion as in Fig. 6 is relatively thin coincidingto the width of the out already made in the longitudinally progressingpipe. 'Anvil 29 however tapers outwardly progressing over its entirelength as best seen in Eigs.

. 'l, 8 and 9 whereby the split' pipe is progressively spread apartuntil it tends to assume a substantially flattened out shape at the endof the anvil. Throughout the spreading operation the pipe is held downto the top surface of the anvil by the propelling rollers 30. 1

Pipe P as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 is then further translated through aplurality of leveling or gauge reducing rollers 33, each separatelypower operated in any convenient manner, and comes out ofv said rolls asa flat strip or sheet of stock. A second electric induction heater orany other type 34. may be interposed between rollers 30 and the levelingrollers 33 for the same reason above given in respect to the inductionheater 21.

More particularly, in a case where the rollers 33 are gauge reducing itis desirable that the sheet or strip of material be first renderedmalleto facilitate said reduction of gauge.

In this event it may be desirable to provide a suitable table or otherconveying means for ca!- rying the stock toa quenching tank for coolingbefore the same is stored for future use or de- 1iver the pipe operablemeans for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped is adaptedto be translated for spreading the same into a substantially flat stripof stock, and

operating means above said anvil adapted to hold i said'pipe against thetop surfacethereof as it progresses over the same.

2. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprisedof operable pipe translating-means onto which said pipe is adapted to besupported, means disposed above said operablemeans adapted'to exert adownward pressure on said pipe, rotatable cutting means adjacent saidoperable means for longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shapedanvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading thesame into a substantially flat strip of stock, oper-' ating means abovesaid anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the progresses over thesame, and leveling rollers through which said pipe is further adapted tobe translated for obtaining a fiat sheet of stock. 3. Apparatus forproducing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprised of operable pipetranslating means onto which said pipe is adapted to be supported, meansdisposed above said operable means adapted to exert a downward pressureon said pipe, rotatable cutting means adjacent said operable means forlongitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which saidpipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into asubstantially flat strip of stock, operating means above said pipeagainst the top surface thereof as it progresses over the same; andpre-heatlng means through which said pipe is adapted to be translateddisposed intermediate said anvil and said cutting means.

4. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprisedof operable pipe translating means onto which be supported, meansdisposed above saidoperable means adapted to exert a downward pressureon said pipe, rotatable cutting means adjacent said operable means forlongitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over which saidpipe It is contemplated, if desired, that a vacuum cleaner or blower orboth could be employed for carrying out a further step in the abovemethod for cleaning out dirt from the pipe before it reaches thecutters. And, or on the other hand a magnetizing coil could be employedfor picking up ferrous metal particles in the pipe before It will beunderstood that any. desired number of rollers may be employed at anypoint in the It may be for instance,

that five rollers could be used to advantage at 7 points 2| and 24.-

described invention, reference which follow adjacent said thereof.

is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into a substantiallyerating means above said pipe against the progresses over the throughwhich said pipe same, pre-heating means is adapted to be translateddisposed intermediate said anvil and said v rollers through'.

cutting means, uge reducing which said spread pipe is further adapted tobe translated tor obtaining a flat sheet of reduced gauge stock; andpro-heating means through which said flattened out-strip or material isadapted to be translated dispose intermediate said and said gaugereducing rollers. I

5. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprisedof a delivery table for longitudinally supporting pipe, operable pipetranslating means onto which said pipe is adapted to be said operablemeans adapted ward pressure. on said pipe, means adjacent said operabletudinally slitting said pip a over which said pipe is adapted to betranslated to exert a downrotatable cuttin means for long for spreadingthe same intoa substantially flat strip of stock; operating means abovesaid anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof asit-pro over the same.

6. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips or anvil over which saidpipe 1 top surface thereof as it.

said anvil adapted to hold said pipe is adapted tov flat strip of stock,P- said anvil adapted to hold top surface thereof as it.

means disposed above wedge shaped anvil stock from pip comprised of adelivery table for longitudinally supporting pipe, a plurality oftransversely disposed power 7 which said pipe is adapted to betranslated, a plurality of idler hold-down rollers transversely disposedabove said power rollers, rotatable cutactuated rollers onto which saidpipe is adapted to be translated for a substantially flat stripspreading the same into of stock, operating means above said anviladapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as itprogresses over the same, and leveling rollers through which said pipeis further ting means for longitudinally slitting said pipe,

a wedge shaped anvil over which said pipe is adapted to be translatedfor spreading the same into a substantially flat strip of stock, and operating means above said anvil adapted to hold said pipe against the topsurface thereof as it progresses over the same. I

7. Apparatus for producing sheets or strips of stock from pipe comprisedof operable pipe translating means, means disposed above said operablemeans adapted to exert a downward pres-' sure on said pipe, a pluralityof rotatable cutting means disposed in a line for ngitudinally slittingsaid pipe, a wedge shap anvil over which said pipe is adapted to betranslated for spreading the sam -into a substantially fiat strip ofadapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as itprogresses over the same.

8. Apparatus for producing sheets of stockfrom pipe comprised ofoperable pipe translating means, means disposed above said operablemeans adapted toexert a downward pressure on said pipe, cuttingmeansfor. longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over whichsaid pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into asubstantiallyflat strip of stock, and operating means above said anviladapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as itprogressses over the same.

9. Apparatus for producing sheets of stock from pipe comprised ofoperable pip translating means, means disposed above said operable meansadaptedto exert a downward pressure on said pipe, cutting means forlongitudinally slitting said .stock, and operating means above saidanvil from' pipe comprised of operable adapted to be' translated forobtaining a fiat sheet of stock.

10. Apparatus for producing sheets of stock from pipecomprised ofoperable pipe translating means, means disposed above said operablemeans adapted to exert a downward pressure on said pipe, cutting meansfor longitudinally slitting said pipe, a wedge shaped anvil over whichsaid pipe is adapted to be translated for spreading the same into asubstantially flat strip of stock, operating means above said anviladapted to hold said pipe against the top surface thereof as itprogresses over the same, and pre-heating thereof as-it progresses overthe same, gauge reducing rollers through which said spread pipe strip ofmaterial pipe, 11 wedge shaped anvil over is further adapted to betranslated for obtaining afiat sheet of reduced gauge stock, andpreheating means through which said flattened out is adapted to betranslated disposed intermediate said anvil and said gauge reducingrollers.

- ALEXANDER. C. ALLEN.

